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Board of Commissioners to consider change to outdoor canine restraints

The Hall County Board of Commissioners is considering voting to amend the animal ordinance which defines allowable forms of outdoor canine restraints within unincorporated Hall County.

“The board’s consideration of a change to the ordinance follows a months-long partnership between the Hall County Animal Shelter and the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia,” said Assistant Hall County Administrator Lisa Johnsa.

She said Hall County Animal Shelter officials have been reviewing the restraint ordinances and policies of other jurisdictions. Meanwhile, Humane Society representatives solicited community input on canine restraint practices by conducting online surveys and hosting focus groups at their facility.

“After reviewing the public input and the data from other jurisdictions, staff is recommending that the board consider changing the ordinance to make it unlawful to tether a canine to any stationary object for any amount of time unless that canine is attended by a competent individual,” said Johnsa.

There will be a first and second reading of the proposed ordinance change in conjunction with two public hearings. The first will be held at the regularly scheduled voting meeting of the Board of Commissioners on Sept. 27. The second public hearing and vote is scheduled for Oct. 25. The proposed effective date of the revised ordinance is Nov. 1.

The recommendation includes a grace period to allow pet owners who currently utilize outdoor restraints an opportunity to comply with the updated ordinance. Informational material will also be available online and at County facilities to help pet owners transition to the new ordinance requirements and answer any questions they may have.